dewey



L t e e h S. W e h s 3 a T WA G H m I m H q d 0 M 0 m Patented Mar, 3, 1891.

WITNESSES .5

ATTORNEYS THE uomus (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. E. DEWEY.

BRIDGE GATE.

9T0. 447,636. Patented Mar. 3,1891.

' Arroms s m5 NORRIS PETERS co., PNUTIPUYHO, wnsnmu'rau, n. c

scription.

braced, so that it cannot be broken down by UNITED STATES HENRY E. DEWEY, or SOUTH HAVEN, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND JAMES H. JOHNSON, OF SAME PLACE.

BRIDGE-GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 447,636, dated March 3,1891.

Application filed August 9,1890. serial No. 361,515. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY E. DEWEY, of South Havenfin the countyof Van Buren and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Bridge-Gates, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact de- My invention relates to an improvement in bridge-gates, and more especially to that variety of gates used to close the approach to swing-bridges; and the object of my invention is to produce a gate that may be easily operated from the land side or from the bridge, but that is shut off from connection with the bridge when operated from the land side and shut off from the land-side connection when operated from the bridge; and a further object of my invention is to produce a gate that when closed will be securely runaway teams.

To this end my invention consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described, and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures.

Figure 1 is a front elevation ofv the gates embodying my invention, the gates being closed. Fig. 2 is a broken plan view of the same with some of the operating-levers removed. Fig. 3 is a front View, but with the gates raised. Fig. 4. is a cross-section on the line 4 def Fig. 2, showing the mechanism for changing the connections, so that the bridge maybe operated from either the land side or the bridge. Fig. 5 is a detailed view, partlyin section, showing the connection between the bridge mechanism and the gate-operating levers. Fig. 5*is a detailed view, partly in section, showing a modified means of operating the bridge cross-head. Fig. 6 is a detailed plan view of the lever and spring-rod, by

means of which connection is made with the bridge mechanism or with the mechanism for operating the gates from the land side. Fig. 7 is a broken plan view of the bridge and ap- 5o proach, showing the connection between the bridge mechanism and the gate-operating levers. Fig.8 is a broken side elevation of the same. Fig. 9 is a detailed side elevation of a modified form of mechanism for operating the bridge cross-head, and Fig. 10 is a detailed front elevation of the bridge cross-head and the frame in which it slides.

The gates A are adapted to close the approach to the bridge, and are composed of two parallel bars a, which are pivoted at their outer ends to the arches B, which cover the sidewalk or footway to the bridge, the bars being bifurcated, as shown in Fig.2, and pivoted to both sides of the arches, and the inner ends of the bars a are pivotallyconnected with the posts a, which rest upon the ground when the gates are closed, and thus form supports for the bars a, which swing on the pivots as the gates are raised, so that the bars a. will close together, as shown in Fig. 3. Suitable bells a are connected with the posts a by springs, and when the gates are lowered the bells will jingle, thereby warning ap-- proaching teams or persons.

The arches B are supported on the approach 0 to the bridge, and each has an extension B extending through the floor of the approach to a suitable foundation, and thus bracing the arches. The bars a extend outside the arches B and are provided with suitable counter-balances, and pivoted to the outer ends of the lower bars are the curved rods b, the lower ends of which are pivoted to the levers c and c. The levers c and c extend inwardly, and are pivoted to the supports D and cross each other near the center of the approach, the lever 0 being longer than the lever c, and both 1evcrs are provided with a longitudinal slot 0 through which extends apin connecting them with the gate-operating mechanism, as described below.

The free end of the lever cis pivotally connected by a link (1 with a lever d, said lever being centrally pivoted upon one of the supports D of the approach, and the inner end of 5 so that the two members E of the post will each support one of the gates A. The post and the gates are arranged in such a manner that the post will be a little in advance ofthe gates, so that when closed the gates will be at an angle to each other, thereby being enabled to resist any shock which they would be likely to receive. The post E moves between the guide-strips F, by which it is held in a vertical position.

A plate G is pivoted on the supportingpier (J of the approach 0, the plate being pivoted in the vertical slot 71 of the plate II, so that the plate G may be vertically adjusted to enable the spring-rod thereon to connect with the gate-operating mechanism, as described below. The plate G is centrally pivoted, and one end is provided with a box G, having a vertical opening 9 through it, and extending from one side of the box is a pin 9, which projects through the slots of the levers c and 0, so that when the plate G is moved the levers will be also moved. The opposite end of the plate G is provided with a laterally-extending flange G and a rod g is mounted longitudinally upon the plate G, said rod being mounted looselyin one side of the box G and in the flange G The rod g is provided near each end with shoulders g and between one of said shoulders and the box G is a spring 9 which normally presses the rod from the box, so that it will project but slightly into it. A pulley g" is centrally pivoted upon the plate G to enable the cord or cable by which the spring-rod g is moved to be easily operated.

A plate I extends vertically through the box G, the upper end of said plate having a transverse perforation 17 therein to receive the end of the spring-rod g. The plate I is connected at top and bottom wit-h a cable j,which extends over the double pulleys j and the pulley 7.: and around the pulley J, which is fixed to the shaft J said shaft being mounted in a suitable support K. A hand -wheel J, having a suitable crank, by means of which it may be turned, is fixed to the shaft J and by turning the hand-wheel and shaft the cable j is moved, thereby moving the plate I up or down, as the case may be.

The pulley 7.: is pivoted on an arm K, which is pivoted at one end to a suitable support, the opposite end being bent, as shown at K and provided with a vertical slot 7a, through which extends a screw 7.2 whereby the arm may be vertically adjusted, so as to give the requisite tension to the cable j.

The cable Z is fixed to one of the shoulders g of the spring-rod g said cable extending beneath the pulley and over one of the pulleys j, and is attached to the lower end of the bent lever L, which is pivoted to the support K. It will thus be seen that by moving the lever L the cable Z is actuated and the rod 9 is forced into the perforation in the plate I, and when the lever L is moved in the opposite direction the spring forces the rod from on gagement with the plate. A ratchet-bar L is pivoted on the support K and engages a pin on the lever L, so that by means of the ratchet-bar the lever and connected parts may be held in a desired position.

A slotted frame M extends over the wall C of the pier C and pivoted in a recess (1 of the wall between the members of the frame M is a walking-beam N, one end of which is pivoted to a block N, which moves in the land side of the frame M, and the opposite end of the walking-beam is pivoted to a slideblock N which moves vertically in the frame M, but on the side next the bridge. The slideblocl: N has an inwardly projecting boss with a transverse perforation n therein, and the rod 9 is normally held by the spring g so that it will enter the perforation n. The slide'bloek N has a laterallyextending pin a thereon, which ex tends between the jaws of the cross-head O, which is mounted on the end of the bridge.

The bridge P is of the usual construction and swings upon a central pier I in the usual manner, and fixed to the end of the bridge is a vertically-slotted frame Q, in which the cross-head O is verticallymovable. Apairof pulleys q and q'are pivoted in the up per portion of the frame Q, as best shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5, and a pulley is pivoted in the lower part of the frame, as shown in the same figure and in Fig. 10.

Fixed to the bridge P near the central portion thereof, although it may be fixed in any convenient part, is a curved toothed rack R, and adjacent to the rack is a lever B, which is fixed at its lower end to the shaft S, which is mounted horizontally upon the bridge. The lever R has a spring-pressed elbowlever r thereon, which is normally held in engage,

ment with the toothed rack R, thus holding the lever R and connected parts in a fixed position.

The shaft S has a pulley S fixed thereto, and extending over the pulley and around the pulleys q q q? is a cable t, said cable bein g also fixed to the cross-head O. I t will thus be seen that by moving the lever R the pulley S is revolved, the cable '6 is removed, and the cross-head 0 moved up or down, as desired.

In Fig. 5 I have shown another means of moving the cross-head 0; but it is similar in principle to the method already described. A vertical screw extends through the crosshead 0, the cross-head havinga threaded aperture to fit the screw, and fixed to the upper end of the screw w is a horizontal pulleyw, and the cable 6 may be passed around the said pulley, and by turning the pulley the screw is turned, thereby raising or lowering the cross-head 0.

Instead of using the lever R and the pulley S, a gear mechanism may be substituted, as shown in Fig. 9, a gear-wheel T being fixed to the shaft S and a gear-wheel T pivoted above the gear-wheel T, so as to mesh theremasses with, and a pinion a may be made to mesh with the gear-wheel T and may be provided with an operating-crank a, so that by turning the crank the shaft S may beturned, thereby turning the pulley S and operating the connecting parts.

The rod g is normally held in engagementwith the slide-block N, so that the device may be operated from the bridge, and when this is done it will be observed that the plate I may slide freely through the box G and the gates cannot be operated from the land side, so that conflicting operations are impossible.

To open the gates from the bridge, the lever R is thrown back, thereby raising the cross-head O, as described, and when this is raised it raises the slide-block N by means of the pin a and tilts the walking-beam N, depressing the end of the walking-beam next to the land side. This movement tilts the plate G, thereby raising the inner ends of the levers c and c and depressing the outer ends, which, acting on the curved rods Z), depress the outer ends of the gates A and raise the inner ends. To close the gates, the lever B is moved in the opposite direction, thereby reversing the operation above described. When the gates are opened, the free end of the lever c is raised, thereby raising the link (1 and the outer end of the lever d, thus depressing the inner end of the lever and cansing the post E to sink through the floor of the approach, and when the gates are closed this movement is reversed. The post E rises simultaneously with the closing of the gates and the ends of the gates rest against the sides of the post, so that they are firmly held in position.

Then the gates are to be operated from the land side, the leverLis thrown inward, thereby actuating the cable land forcing the springrod 9 into engagement with the plate I. The hand-wheel J is then turned, thereby turning the shaft J 2 and the pulley J, thus moving the cable j, the plate I, and the plate G, and as the plate Gis connected with the gateoperating levers, as described, the gates are operated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In gates for swing-bridges, the combination, with two vertically-swinging gates, of a vertically-movable post to support the ends of the gates, a lever mechanism connecting the post and gates, so that they will be simultaneously raised and lowered, and a lever mechanism mounted upon the bridge and connected with the gate-operating mechanism, substantially as described.

2. In gates for swing-bridges, the combination,with two vertically-swinging gates adapted to close the entrance to the bridge, of a post vertically movable through the approach to the bridge and adapted to support the ends of the gates, a lever connection between the post and the gates, means for operating the gates from the land side, means for operating the gates from the bridge, and a lever mechanism to shift the connection from the landside operating-levers to the bridge-operating mechanism, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the verticallyswinging gates, of curved rods pivoted to the outer ends of the gate-bars,inwardly-extending levers pivoted to the curved rods and provided with slots at their point of intersection, a post vertically movable through-the floor of the approach and adapted to support the inner ends of the gates, aplate pivoted upon a support and having in one end a vertical opening, said plate being connected to the slotted levers, as shown, a plate extending vertically through the opening in the pivoted plate and having a perforation therein, a spring-pressed rod mounted on the pivoted plate and adapted to engage the vertical plate, means for throwin g the rod into and out of engagement with the vertical plate, a handoperated shaft mounted in a support, and a cable mounted upon the shaft and connecting over suitable pulleys with the upper and lowerends of the vertical plate, substantially as described.

4:. The combination, with the vertical plate and with the cable for operating the same, of the bent arm pivoted below the plate and provided with a pulley to engage the cable, and means for vertically adjusting said arm, substantially as described.

5. In gates for swing-bridges, the combination, with the pivoted plate having connection with the gate'and post operating levers,

as shown, and having a spring-rod mounted thereon, of the walking-beam pivoted upon a support and having at one end a slide-block with a perforation to engage the spring-rod and at the opposite end a slide-block with a laterally-extending pin, a vertically-movable cross head mounted upon the end of the bridge and adapted to engage the pin of one slide-block, and means for moving the said cross-head, substantially as described.

6. In gates for swing-bridges, the combination, with the vertical plate having means by which it may be moved from the land side and the vertically-movable slide-block having a perforation therein and connected with the walking beam andbridge cross-head, as shown, of the pivoted plate connected with the gate and post operating levers and havinga springrod thereon adapted to engage the vertical plate and the perforated slide block, and means for vertically adjusting the said pivoted plate, substantially as described.

'7. The combination, with the verticallymovable plate havinga perforation to engage the spring-rod, as shown, and the verticallymovable perforated slide block connected with the bridge cross-head, as described, of the pivoted plate, the spring pressed rod thereon adapted to engage the vertical plate end of the lever and to the spring-rod,whereby the spring-rod may be actuated, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with the spring-rod mounted upon the pivoted plate and adapted to engage the perforated plate and the perforated slide-block, of a lever pivoted on a support, a cable connecting one end of the lever with the spring-rod, and a ratchet-bar for holding the lever in position, substantially as described.

9. The combination, with the pivoted plate connected with the gate and post operating levers, as shown, the spring pressed rod mounted thereon, and the walking-beam pivoted upon a support, said walking-beam having at one end a slide-block to engage the springs-0d and at the opposite end a slideblock carrying a projecting pin, of a frame fixed to the end of the bridge, a cross-head vertically movable in the frame and adapted to engage the pin of the second slide-block, a shaft mounted horizontally upon the bridge, a pulley fixed to the shaft, a cable extending over the pulley and over pulleys in the crosshead frame, said cable being attached to the cross head, and a lever mechanism for operating the shaft, substantially as described.

10. The combination, with the pivoted plate having connection with the post and gate operating levers, as shown, and having a springpressed rod mounted thereon, and the vertically-movable cross-head mounted upon the end of the bridge and having means, as described, ior operating the same, of a slotted frame fixed to the Wall of the land-pier, a Walking-beam pivoted between the members of the frame, a slide-block pivoted to one end of the walking-beam, so as to move vertical] y in the frame, said slide-block havinga transverse perforation to engage the spring-rod, and a second slide-block pivoted to the opposite end of the walking-beam to move vertically in the frame, said second slide-block having a laterally-extending pin to engage the bridge cross-head, substantially as described.

HENRY E. DEWEY. Witnesses.

II. Honens,

A. IIoLMEs. 

